Cape, Islands blanketed in snow

Monday

The National Weather Service warned of a foot of snow, coastal flooding and high winds, but that didn't stop Brianna Way from heading to the Cape Cod Mall.

HYANNIS — The National Weather Service warned of a foot of snow, coastal flooding and high winds, but that didn't stop Brianna Way from heading to the Cape Cod Mall.

"I didn't realize it was going to be that bad," Way said of her trip from Mashpee.

Way and her fiancÚ, along with his sister and niece, were among the throngs who braved the big fluffy flakes to circle the parking lot and wait for spaces to open up Sunday at the mall.

"I have gift cards. I want to spend them," said Bourne resident Jessica Tuell, as her 3-year-old daughter cried "Mama!" and begged for another ride on the carousel near the food court. "I like the snow."

The festive atmosphere was at odds with the reality outside, where skidding accidents littered the Cape and snow quickly piled up throughout the afternoon.

The National Weather Service predicted the Upper Cape would bear the brunt of the storm with 6 to 12 inches and the Lower Cape could see as little as 2 inches, though forecasts continued to change as the storm shifted through the evening. A high wind warning is in effect until 6 p.m. today, with northeast and north winds reaching 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. Those winds, along with heavy, wet snow, were expected to take down trees and power lines from the Upper Cape and Rhode Island, the National Weather Service said in its warning.

As of 8 p.m., NStar reported 34,000 customers on Cape Cod and the South Shore were without power.

Coastal flooding was another concern as high tides were cresting at 4 a.m. this morning. Seas were expected to reach 20 to 25 feet and a flood warning was in effect until 6 a.m.

The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line cancelled ferry service Sunday afternoon to Nantucket and most flights were cancelled.

The wintry conditions came as a band of frigid weather snaked its way up the East Coast, bringing blizzard conditions to New York City and most of New England.

Gov. Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency for the second major storm to hit the state since winter's official start Dec. 21.

As Patrick visited the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency's bunker in Framingham Sunday, he said the state of emergency would continue through this morning. Declaring a state of emergency allows the governor to mobilize the National Guard if necessary and conduct other emergency business to help local communities respond to the storm. Through the storm, 4,000 plows, sanders and salt trucks were on state roads, the governor said.

In some ways, the timing helped keep people out of the elements. But the weather didn't slow mall shopper John English.

"Snow doesn't bother me," he said. "I work in it. I drive in it."

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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